TallAcePaul: What is, or more to the point who is, more important for the women's game?
"Both"
TallAcePaul: Pull your finger out organizers.
Next year they will.
The USGA said it was changing its criteria for the U.S. Women's Open next year. Instead of the top 25 from the women's world ranking being exempt from qualifying, the top 50 will get in.
That's one year too late for Charley Hull of England.
The teenager who starred in the Solheim Cup last year is No. 34 in the world, the same as Bill Haas in the men's ranking. The U.S. Open takes the top 60 for the men — two weeks before the championship, and the final ranking before the tournament begins.
Special exemptions typically are reserved for past champions, though there have been exceptions. Michelle Wie received a special exemption in 2004 when former USGA executive director said her LPGA earnings — if she had been a pro — would have been enough to qualify.
On the men's side, the USGA gave an exemption in 2000 at Pebble Beach to 19-year-old Aaron Baddeley.
The only news Hull made Wednesday came from a news release out of the Ladies European Tour. Hull leads the money list in Europe. She is the feature attraction at the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open.